Switch-locking mechanism.



T. M1 PREEBLB. SWITCH LOCKING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 00112, i910.

Patented Oct. 22,1912.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTCE. THOMAS M. FREEIBLE, OF BDCHiESTER, PENANSYLVANTA, ASSIGNOR F 'ONE-HALF TO RAYMOND M. KAUFMANN, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

swrrcH-LocKING Meenemen.

Patented Dot. 22,1912:

p'plication led October 12, 1910. Serial No. -586,649.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS bM. FREEBLE, of Rochester, Beaver county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful mprovcnient in Switch-Locking Mechanism, of which the following isA a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, -in which:-

Figure 1 is a plan view showing my invention applied; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the locking box or` case and its contained mechanism, Fig. 3 is a section onv the .line III-III of Fi 2; Fig. 4 is a detail View of a portion of t e mechanism shownv in Fig. 2, but in the unlocked position; Figs.

5 and 6 are detail views showing the key parts of the mechanism. l Iy invention has relation to switch-locking mechanism, and is designed to provide simple and eiiicient means whereby a switch cannot be thrown when a train is within a 'certain distance thereof, except by an authorized person with full knowledge of that fact. It is also designed to provide mecha,

nism of this character, in which the switch when locked cannot be unlocked except by the use of a special key, and'whicli key can# net .be removed until the switch is restored to its normal position.'

The nature of my invention willV be bestv understood by reference to the accompanyin the details of construction and ment of the Darts, without departing' from ing mechanism, and which is preerabl ing drawings, in which I have shown the preferred embodiment thereof, and which will now be described Yit being premised, however, that various c anges may be made arranget-he spirit an scope of my invention as deined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 2 designates main track rails, and 3 branch track rails which connect with the main track, the switch connection shown being of the usuall split switch type.

4 designates a battery or other source of electric energy, which is connected across the main rails 2 at a certain determined dis? tance from the switch.

5.is a box or casing containing the lockplaced closel adjacent to the usualswitc' stand (not s own). Within this box is an electro-magnet 6. which is connected across the rails 2 adjacent to the switch by means of the suitable conductors 7.

8 is the usual switch bar or rod which extends through the lower portion of vthe box 5, and is held against switch-throwing 1n0vement by means of a vertical locking bar 9, whose lower end portion 10 passesthrough a perforation in said rod or bar.

11 is the armature of 'the electro-magnet,

which is pivoted at 12 andwhich has a heel portion 13 which normally engages a locking shoulder 14 on thelocking member 9.

15 designates a key tumbler or barrel adapted to receive a removable key 16 and having an arm 17 arranged to engage the heel portion 13 of the armature 11. I

1.8 1s a cap or cover, which is provided for the purpose of closing the opening in the top of t-he box or case through vwhich the lcking member 9 extends, against the entrance of water, etc.

vThe operation is as follows -As long as no train occupies that portion of the main track between the battery 4 and the conductor 7 leading to the elect-romagnet 6,.

said magnetis energized and its armature 12 is held in the position shown in Fig. 2 andout of locking engagement with the shoulder of the locking member 9. The switch can, therefore, be thrown by lifting the locking member 9 out of engagement with the switch rod or bar 8. When, however, a train enters the section between the battery and the connection 7, the electro magnet 6 will be short-circnited or shunted by the .wheels or axles of the train and will be denergized to cause it torelease the armature 11,-whose heel portion will then drop into engagement with -the locking shoulder of the member 9. Said member cannot now be raised except by the use of the key 16. This key, which is supposed to be only in the possession of an authorized employee of the road, is inserted in .the tumbler or barrel 15,' and is caused to turn said tumbler or barrel to raise the arm 17' into lifting engagement with the armature 12, thereby moving said armature to release it from locking engagement with the member 9. The heel portion 13 of the armature 12 has a cam surface 13 for engagement with the end of the arm 17,s0 that when it is moved into the position shown in Fig. 4, and the locking member 9 has been raised,

the arm l? cannot be moved back to the dotted-line position shown, and the key is thereby held against withdrawahas shown4 in Fig. (i, until such time as the switch has been-again locked by the engagement of the' member 9 with the rod 8. A

The advantages of myl invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, since it provides means which make it impossible for a switch to be thrown by any unauthorized person with a train within a definite 4distance of the switch.

It also provides means whereby the person using the key is compelled to leave theswitch in the proper position before he can regain possession of his key.

1. In a switch-locking mechanism for railway tracks, the combination with a movable track switch member and a throwing rod therefor, oi? a vertically movable locking bar for the throwing rod, an armature member arranged in one position thereof to engage a track circuit for controlling the electromagnetic means, and a removable key adapted to operate and release lthe said lock, together with means whereby the key is locked against withdrawal in one position of the switch member; substantially as described.

In switch-loeking mechanism for railway tracks, the combination with a movable Copies of this patent may be obtained for switoh"member and `a throwing connection therefor, of a locking member to engage and lock the throwing connection against movement, a lock for said locking member, electro-magnetic means for controlling the lock, a track circuit for controlling the electromagnetic means, and a removable key adaptf' ed to operate and release the said lock, the lock having means for locking the, key against removal in one position of the parts; substantially as described. 4. In switch-locking mechanism for railways, the combination with a movable track switch member and a throwing rod therefor, of a vertically movable locking,barv for the throwing rod, an armature member arranged, in one position thereof, to engage and lock the locking bar, a magnet for controlling thc armature, a track circuit including said magnet, and a key-operated member for. moving the armature member independently of the magnet, the armature member having means to engage and lock the key-operated member in. one position of the parts; substantially as described. 4

5. In a switch locking mechanism, a switch having a throwing rod or bar, a locking member arranged to have a locking engagement therein, an electro-magnet having an armature arranged to lock the locking mei'nber when the magnet is denergized, and a track circuit controlling the magnet, a` keyoperated release device for' the armature, together with means whereby the key can bel withdrawn from said device only when the locking member has been returned to its locking position; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

. THOMAS M. FREEBLE.

Witnesses:

WALTER FAMAmss, GEO. H. PARMELEE.

five cents each', by addressing Ilie olnmissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

